Called to Overcome
In Called to Overcome you will meet the author, Linda McBurney-Gunhouse. She is no ordinary author, and this is no ordinary autobiography. It is in fact, a testimony of a life that has been snatched from the clutches of death and given a chance to live. Linda shares some of her delightful childhood, her family life, home life, school life, and especially her spiritual upbringing. You'll follow her on a very difficult journey through her teens where she lived the life of a hippy, and she seemed to be always on the edge of impending disaster. After her life-changing experiences at Bible School, Linda’s troubles are far from over. Now she must deal with the realities of loneliness, financial hardships, and failed relationships until she meets the right one.
She is candid in her story telling and has laid out her real-life stories in a way that readers can relate to, and perhaps find encouragement in their own life. Above all, Linda is sharing her stories in hopes of conveying with absolute certainty that with God on her side, she can overcome whatever life throws at her.
Story 1 — The World I was Born Into
The Kind of World I was Born Into
I was born in December, one of the darkest and coldest months of the year. To be precise, December 29, 1957, was the day I arrived in this world, and in some ways, would turn things upside down, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. I was born in a small town in Manitoba called Souris. I was the fourth and final child born to Dave and Pauline McBurney. Waiting for me at home were my oldest sister, Adella, my only brother, Alvin, and my other sister, Marlene.
Even though December is a cold and dark month, this is also the month we celebrate Christmas, the month that marks Jesus’ birth. That makes it extra special to me. There’s always a lot happening in December, and it is filled with joy and excitement. I always look forward to Christmas, and instead of being disappointed once it is over, I still have my birthday to look forward to. When I came along, my dad had only been out of the army for 12 years. There was a huge baby boom going on following the Second World War. Many veterans were given great government jobs by the VLA. Economically, the country was booming, and appliances were all the rage. Everyone had a car. The Cold War was on, so politically the world was still very unsettled as countries vied for territory and superiority. The USA and Russia started sending rockets up into space. Elvis was already very popular, and 1957 was the year he acquired Graceland. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t aware of any of this. I only knew that I was loved, and I was launched head first into a wonderful family who loved me.
My Family History
I was born into the Dave and Pauline McBurney family. My dad is from Souris and lived there all his life. My dad had returned from the army overseas in 1945, and he was living 10 miles west out of town on the family homestead. He was farming with his brother Orville and his dad Walter McBurney, who went blind and also passed away in 1947. His mother, Euretta Jane CARDIS McBurney, had already passed away in 1941 while my dad was still overseas during World War II. My mom moved to Souris from Glenavon, Saskatchewan, her home, to work in Jacobson’s photo studio. Mr. Jacobson introduced my dad to my mom, and they fell in love. They married in 1948, and they started their family in 1949. Adella was born May 3, 1949, then Alvin was born April 28, 1950, then Marlene was born September 4, 1955, and finally me, December 29, 1957. So, all of us children are part of the Baby Boomer generation. Pretty much everyone from that generation agrees that this was the best time to grow up in. We just had so much fun and adventures. We grew up mostly outside. We learned to invent, create, and make do with next to nothing but our own active imaginations. We didn’t need technology to entertain us like they have today. In fact, our generation put in the hard work and provided incredibly improved technology that we have today, such as the Internet. We had the best music and movie stars of all time. They never grow old.
My Parents
My dad, David Everett McBurney, was born to Walter McBurney and Euretta (nee CARDIS) McBurney in Souris, Manitoba. He was the youngest of three boys. He had two older brothers, Orville and Charlie. Charlie was raised in Ontario by his Aunt Mary and her brother, Uncle Tom. I had four special cousins that belonged to Uncle Charlie — Shannon, Tom, Ed and Edna. They have another brother, John, whom I’ve never met. Sadly, Shannon and Ed have already passed away. I am so glad I got to make several trips to Ontario to visit my special cousins when I was a teenager and later when I was in my 20s and 30s. I’m so glad when they have been able to come out west for a visit. They are each so special to me, and I consider them more like brothers and sister than cousins. I talk more about my trips to see them in a separate book about my travels.
My dad was Irish, and his ancestors came from County Down in Ireland. Orville lived in Souris, and when I was very young, my dad's Uncle Alf also lived nearby. He was like a grandpa to us because we never met my dad's parents, and neither did my mom. He often baby-sat us and our beloved dog, Skippy, when we went away, usually to Saskatchewan to visit with my mom's family. Orville came every Sunday for our Sunday meal, and he was there for all the special occasions as well. In fact, my parents always had a visitor or an entire family over for Sunday supper, and it seemed like it was nearly every Sunday.
My dad had a great sense of humor, and I remember him mostly having a sunny disposition. One of the things my dad liked to do was imitate famous personalities. He could even imitate Hitler, his stance, his look with furrowed eyebrows, and my dad even bought a little fake black mustache to complete the look. We often thought he could have been an actor since he played the part so well. My dad had been profoundly affected by being in the Second World War for all those years. I took a great interest in his story when I was about 20 or so. I had to write an article for a magazine writing course I was taking from Christian Writers Institute, which I believe Jerry Jenkins is now associated with. I took a portion of his story and sent it to a military magazine, Command. The article includes the battle he was in, how he got shot, and then later how he gave his life to Christ (got truly saved) in a military hospital in Italy. The article is called Finding God in the Midst of War. I post this article as a blog every Remembrance Day on Facebook, because I don’t want people to forget the great cost of the freedoms we enjoy today, thanks to brave soldiers like my dad.
Dad loved selling, and he was very good at it. He started off selling Fuller Brush door-to-door. Later he sold insurance, and then Electrolux vacuum cleaners, Rawleigh, and finally Watkins. As a small girl, I put on Dad’s big shoes, picked up his briefcase, and walked outside. Our neighbour, Mrs. Donogh, saw me, laughed, and said, “There goes Little Dave.” I’m pretty sure I‘ve been selling one thing or another since childhood because I saw how much my dad enjoyed selling. Dad loved the traveling part of his job, and he went all over southern and western Manitoba meeting people and selling his wares. I think he enjoyed eating out in a lot of small-town restaurants. When he wasn’t selling, he’d take my mom out for a meal to one of these restaurants. He knew so many people through his sales career and his travels, and he had a fantastic memory to be able to remember names, places, and events. Through the years, he taught me many things about life, politics, and especially about God. He was pleased I shared an interest in electronics like he did. He honored and respected God. He faithfully attended church.
My mother, Pauline (nee BONK), was the sixth youngest child born to Albert Bonk and Francis (nee RUSINEK) Bonk. As children, Grandpa immigrated from Austria, and Grandma immigrated from Poland. They spoke fluent Polish. had a large family of 17 children (21 in total; sadly, four babies died), and 15 adults survived to old age. So, I grew up with ten uncles and four aunts on my mom’s side alone, plus their spouses. I was glad to put a book together with all their life stories in it several years ago. Now most of them have gone home to be with the Lord. I had lots of cousins that I enjoyed playing with. Most of my mom's relatives lived in Saskatchewan. They escaped their home country after it became communist. Due to the influence and prayers of their son Edward, they had a miraculous spiritual experience while living in Regina, and they went from a strong Catholic faith to a Pentecostal one. So, I always say that I come from a very strong Christian background and heritage. Many of my mother’s relatives were ministers, musicians, evangelists, missionaries, and so on. We were all taught to witness and not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is where I saw that witnessing and sharing my faith is the norm, and not the exception. I continue to believe that one of the most important things I can do on this earth is to share my faith. I am so glad that I saw it first-hand, and I now try and carry the torch.
My mother set a good example for me on so many levels. She was a very warm-hearted person and generous to a fault. When we were kids, we’d go for a meal to the Chocolate Shop, and she and my Uncle Alf would tear the bill in half fighting over who was going to pay for the bill. To me, she was the woman described in Proverbs 31. She wasn’t afraid to speak up about her faith either. And she really lived out and demonstrated the love of God. She was a very positive person in spite of some personal setbacks. She worked very hard, and she kept an immaculate house. Dad always helped her with whatever he could. She created a warm and inviting atmosphere, and she frequently entertained guests or family who would just drop by unannounced. She’d pull out her delicious baking, and like it says in the Bible, she was “given to hospitality.” I think that was one of her greatest giftings. When I was a child and teenager, she sewed beautiful dresses for herself and us girls. She wasn’t afraid to try new things either. I got her to start painting in acrylics, and she was very good at it. She willingly went cross-country skiing with me. We had loads of fun on the many trips we took together, which I’ll share more about in another book. She was a wonderful friend to me.
My Siblings
Being the youngest, I came along when things were already well underway in our family. My sister Adella was already about 8 years old, my brother Alvin (Al for short) was 7, and Marlene was only 2. So, they had a big jump-start as far as family dynamics go. They already had a history with my parents, plus they had already developed relationships with each other. So, I was pretty close to Mommy and Daddy as a youngster, and I was also pretty close to Marlene. Being a little shy and looking up to my older siblings, it took awhile to really find out who I was and who I should be. As siblings, we are very close. We stay in touch regularly, and we get together whenever we can, even though Adella lives in a province over, and I live in a rural area. My mom always said that they raised two separate families: Adella and Alvin weren’t even a year apart, and then my sister Marlene and I came along later.
When we were little, I remember my oldest sister Adella was like the belle of the ball (Cinderella), it seemed, and me and my sister Marlene felt like the much younger wannabe little sisters! Adella had her own room on the main floor of the two story house, and she had a closet full of beautiful designer clothes. She had a collection of beautiful shoes that would make Imelda Marcos envious! And purses to match. And she was so pretty! We looked up to her. After Adella left home, at Christmas she would bring home the most beautifully wrapped gifts for Marlene and I. One year she gave us each a soft angora sweater. We were always so excited when she came home for a visit. When I was older, I went to visit her as well. It was a long drive from Winnipeg to Mistatim, way up in northern Saskatchewan, but well worth it. One time my sister Marlene and I got lost at night in the winter going to Adella’s for Christmas. I wrote the story, and it got published in a newspaper. We made it there at around 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Adella and her husband gave us the most memorable Christmas with a horse and sleigh ride and delicious meals. Through the years, Adella and I became the closest of friends, and we share a lot of the same beliefs and outlook on life. We have spent many hours visiting in person, on the phone, on Zoom, and texting. She is so easy to talk to, and she’s one of the sweetest, most loving persons you’ll ever meet. I sure appreciate her love and support now, and throughout all these years. When I was only 14, I was thrilled to be one of her bridesmaids when she got married to Kevin Lutz. I sure love my oldest sister.
It was wonderful having an older brother. My brother Alvin liked to tease us mercilessly, and we had a lot of fun playing together. He liked to roughhouse with us girls, and this likely toughened us up a little. I always looked up to my big brother. When I was little, he taught me how to ice skate, and he helped me stay upright. As an adult, he taught me how to golf, and so we golfed a lot together. When we were older, Al became a best friend to me. I could talk to him about anything and everything, and he was and is a very gifted listener and counsellor. I appreciate his keen mind and how thoughtful and kind he is. When he was taking a psychology major at the university, I knew he’d make a great counsellor with his gentle spirit and wisdom. He had always helped me. No wonder he made such a great chaplain. He knows the right words to say, and he has the compassion people need in their troubling situations. When I was going to university, we got together often, and we discussed what I was learning. He showed me how to write a proper essay, and my grades all went up. I love and appreciate him so much. He has a lovely wife, Linda, beautiful and smart, and she’s a teacher as well.
I remember when I was only about eight or nine years old, Adella and Alvin left home. It was 1967, Canada’s 100th Birthday year. This was when my parents would experience the “two families” they were raising. Two left home; two were left to raise. It was very traumatic for me when they left. I wouldn’t see them as often, and it would never be the same, even if there was more room in the house now, I missed them terribly. They went to Caronport, Saskatchewan, where Adella had a job as a waitress in the college restaurant. She later took her LPN training and became a very gifted nurse. Al finished his grade 12 there, and he graduated there, too. It was a Christian school. Al later worked in the business world as a manager, and also in sales. After he retired, Al became a chaplain, and a very good one. Suzanne Berry, a daughter of very close friends of our family, also attended the school in Caronport the same time as Alvin. So, in addition to his sister, he knew a friend from home. When Adella and Alvin came home for a visit, we’d be so excited to see them. I also remember when we knew they were coming home for a weekend, or a Christmas vacation, Mom would get the place all cleaned up, and bake like crazy. She always made a welcoming homecoming for them. She made sure she made their favorite foods. When their weekend home would be over, sometimes we’d get to go for the nine mile car ride to the “nine mile corner,” as it was called, on Highway 2 west. Someone would pick them up there, and take them the rest of the way to Caronport, which is about 45 minutes west of Regina. I would always feel so sad when they left.
My sister Marlene and I are very close. I often refer to her as my twin. We have so many similarities, and we also have a few differences. I asked my mom one day, “What was your purpose in having me?” She said, “To be a playmate for Marlene.” And what a great friend she’s been to me! We often talk about our wonderful childhood we shared. We had a wonderful time growing up. I talk about Marlene throughout this book, as she was and is a big part of my life. I’m so thankful to God for her, and I love her dearly. Marlene is a very compassionate person, and she has demonstrated the love of Jesus to me, and to everyone she meets for as long as I can remember. She worked at the Family Support Center for many years, and she loved being part of a charity that serves women and families in need and often in crisis. She is also a whiz at planning, organizing, and putting together events, even weddings. She has planned and executed pretty much all of our family gatherings and various celebrations for many years. She and her husband, Gord, could single-handedly cater the most exquisite dining affair. When Princess Anne was in Manitoba for the 1999 Pan Am Games, Marlene served her in a private yacht event. One time, Gord served the Queen of England when he was still working in the banquet business.
Houses we Lived In
My siblings have memories that I don’t have. For one thing, Adella and Alvin had already lived on the farm with Mom and Dad. For many years, my parents owned this choice land, and they rented part of it out to neighbors whom my dad knew well. My dad’s old homestead stood the tests of time where he was born and raised, and the house stood stalwart for many years. The house where they lived when I was born was called the “Little House.” Our family had a quirky way to identify the houses we lived in. The other houses were named after the previous owners. The Little House (because it was small for a family of four) was the first house they lived in after moving into town from the farm. My siblings remember that there was no running water, and the water had to be carried from the well every day. We didn’t live there long, however, and I think I was about three years old when they moved to another house across the river called the “Burnett’s house,” which my mom says was very cold. It was located across the river in the south part of town. Then we moved to the “Clear’s House” in the north end of town, across the tracks, and not far from the Little House. The builder of this house had been a railway engineer, Bill, and he wanted to live close to the station where he reported for work. I was only five years old, and my parents lived there for a total of 28 years. After they finally sold the farm, they bought what used to be “Dr. Knight’s House,” on Third Avenue. That was in the year 1990. After my dad semi-retired, they moved to a spacious two-bedroom apartment right on the main drag uptown, right beside Chicken Chef. They loved going for coffee there every day.
In Clear’s House, my sister Marlene and I shared a bedroom upstairs, which was very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. My brother Al had his own room, as they put up a dividing wall upstairs to divide the two bedrooms. When he left home, it became my room. Adella had her own room downstairs. Our house was close to the railroad station and the tracks, so you’d often hear the whistle blow when it was coming into town. You’d hear it late at night and during the day. It became a comforting sound as the years went by. There were fields all around our house, except on the east side where neighbors lived. So, we had lots of room to play, unlike in a city or downtown where you only have a small piece of yard or a cement balcony to enjoy. In the winter, we’d toboggan down the steep hills of snow left by the grater, or we’d head to the park where there was a steep hill by the Victoria Park Lodge. We’d also snowmobile with the neighbors, who were fortunate enough to own one. In the spring, Marlene and I would put on our new rubber boots and go crunching through the ice in the fields, then we’d slosh around in the water under the broken ice. What a world of wonder we would discover in the great outdoors, whatever the season was. One of the things I grew to appreciate as I got older were the sunsets. We had a pretty clear view from the west side of our house. And you could see if a storm was rolling in. When it thundered it seemed that the whole house would shake.
Magical Childhood
As a child, I loved adventure and mystery. My sister and I enjoyed playing dolls, cut-outs, any kind of board game, card games, and imaginary play-acting pretending we were teachers, for instance. The cut-outs didn't cost a cent. We took the old Sears and Eaton’s catalogues and cut out the models. We created an entire family and household just from cutting out images from the catalogues. Sometimes we would receive a gift of cut-outs in a special booklet, and that was really special. They would be models that were popular then, like Annette from the Mouseketeers. Playing cut-outs, Barbie dolls, and the board game of Monopoly were our favorite things to do when we had to stay in because of inclement weather. I wonder if this is where my love of scrapbooking began? We also played Go Fish cards, which we really loved, and we also liked playing jacks. My sister and I were avid readers, as well. We collected and read every Archie comic we could get our hands on. Whitfield’s Drugs used to sell them. We played outside a lot year-round, and many times our neighbors came and played with us. I remember building snow forts and my dad kept coming out to make sure we were alright. Sometimes we and the neighbor kids would play-act based on popular TV shows of the day, like Batman, for instance. We built forts and had hidden forts as well. We lived in a world of imagination, and we didn’t need the entertainment found in the technology of today.
I remember Saturdays especially. We each had to do our chores, and then we’d get an allowance. I think I used to dust the furniture. We’d go uptown and get to spend our coins on whatever we wanted. Back then, a single dollar got you a bag full of things! I might buy an Archie comic for 25 cents, a hair barrette for 10 cents, a ball toy, a small doll, or a children’s book for 39 cents, and I still had money left over for chocolates and candy. At school, we would walk to the corner store at noon and buy a bag full of candy for only 10 cents. You’d get about 20-40 pieces of candy and gum for that! For one cent, you’d get four pieces of candy, like jawbreakers, for instance. From the gas station store, we’d get a large glass bottle of Coke for 12 cents, and you’d get the 2 cents back for the bottle when you returned it. When I was only about nine years old, they’d sell me a pack of cigarettes for about 25 cents. My friend Darryl got me interested in trying smoking, which was too bad.
Going to Brandon was always a treat. We’d go to the Met, or Eaton’s, and later, when I was a teen, we’d go to the newly opened Woolco. My mom used to work at K-Mart, but that was much later on, after we had all left home. But if we didn’t make it into Brandon, everything you needed could be found in the stores in Souris. I especially liked Stedman’s and Robinson’s, both general stores that carried everything at reasonable prices. We lived a simpler life than today; we had each other and our friends and neighbors. Life was good. It seemed like childhood was magical, and we had so much fun I can hardly remember any hard times.
I want to mention a family that we grew up with, and that was the Berry family. Albert and Isabel Berry lived about ten miles north-east of Souris. We got together with them quite a lot. Their kids matched the age of us kids quite closely. Suzanne was the oldest, Patty was the second oldest, Colleen was the third, and Darryl was the youngest, my age. Mrs. Berry delivered Darryl on December 8th, and I was born three weeks later to the day. As tweens, sometimes Darryl and I used to write notes to each other in church during the sermon. Sometimes our two families shared Christmas together. One year we went out to the country to their farm, and did we ever have fun on the snowmobile riding across the fields. There’s nothing quite like enjoying the wintery outdoors on a clear Christmas night. I remember wearing my new Christmas gifts, likely a warm hat, scarf, and mittens. We likely enjoyed hot chocolate and goodies when we came in.
My Hometown: Souris
I want to mention some things about Souris because it is a noteworthy town. Souris is located in the Red River Valley in Manitoba, in the south-west area of the province. It is known for several things, not the least being it boasts of having the longest suspension swinging bridge in Canada. Souris is a beautiful town with the Souris River running through it on the east side. The Swinging Bridge crosses over it. It has a beautiful, treed park in the valley, and the downtown looks down into it. It is rich in Manitoba/Canadian history since this is where the aboriginals lived, and I believe some trading went on here, as well. There was wild buffalo at Oak Lake, a nearby town, where I excavated buffalo bones, which was my summer government STEP job. There may have been buffalo around Souris as well. Surrounding Souris are rich farming fields and agriculture. The view of the prairies west of town is truly picture worthy. Tourists are especially drawn to the agate pits just outside of town. Here is a treasure-trove of a variety of rocks. People go to the Rock Shop along Highway 2 to get their picking permit. Where we lived, they hadn't paved the roads yet. We could find all kinds of special stones as we walked along the road. As we got older and got our driver’s license, one of our favorite things to do was drive around town. It is such a beautiful, well-laid-out town that it truly was and still is a pleasurable pastime. I think almost everybody enjoys touring the town because of the interesting terrain, that has both hills and valleys. The dam on the east side of town was especially mesmerizing. And yes, there were daredevils that crossed it without any safety apparatus to save them if they plunged into the water. I always believed that Souris is one of Manitoba’s most beautiful towns, and I’m so glad I was raised there.
Even though December is a cold and dark month, this is also the month we celebrate Christmas, the month that marks Jesus’ birth. That makes it extra special to me. There’s always a lot happening in December, and it is filled with joy and excitement. I always look forward to Christmas, and instead of being disappointed once it is over, I still have my birthday to look forward to. When I came along, my dad had only been out of the army for 12 years. There was a huge baby boom going on following the Second World War. Many veterans were given great government jobs by the VLA. Economically, the country was booming, and appliances were all the rage. Everyone had a car. The Cold War was on, so politically the world was still very unsettled as countries vied for territory and superiority. The USA and Russia started sending rockets up into space. Elvis was already very popular, and 1957 was the year he acquired Graceland. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t aware of any of this. I only knew that I was loved, and I was launched head first into a wonderful family who loved me.
My Family History
I was born into the Dave and Pauline McBurney family. My dad is from Souris and lived there all his life. My dad had returned from the army overseas in 1945, and he was living 10 miles west out of town on the family homestead. He was farming with his brother Orville and his dad Walter McBurney, who went blind and also passed away in 1947. His mother, Euretta Jane CARDIS McBurney, had already passed away in 1941 while my dad was still overseas during World War II. My mom moved to Souris from Glenavon, Saskatchewan, her home, to work in Jacobson’s photo studio. Mr. Jacobson introduced my dad to my mom, and they fell in love. They married in 1948, and they started their family in 1949. Adella was born May 3, 1949, then Alvin was born April 28, 1950, then Marlene was born September 4, 1955, and finally me, December 29, 1957. So, all of us children are part of the Baby Boomer generation. Pretty much everyone from that generation agrees that this was the best time to grow up in. We just had so much fun and adventures. We grew up mostly outside. We learned to invent, create, and make do with next to nothing but our own active imaginations. We didn’t need technology to entertain us like they have today. In fact, our generation put in the hard work and provided incredibly improved technology that we have today, such as the Internet. We had the best music and movie stars of all time. They never grow old.
My Parents
My dad, David Everett McBurney, was born to Walter McBurney and Euretta (nee CARDIS) McBurney in Souris, Manitoba. He was the youngest of three boys. He had two older brothers, Orville and Charlie. Charlie was raised in Ontario by his Aunt Mary and her brother, Uncle Tom. I had four special cousins that belonged to Uncle Charlie — Shannon, Tom, Ed and Edna. They have another brother, John, whom I’ve never met. Sadly, Shannon and Ed have already passed away. I am so glad I got to make several trips to Ontario to visit my special cousins when I was a teenager and later when I was in my 20s and 30s. I’m so glad when they have been able to come out west for a visit. They are each so special to me, and I consider them more like brothers and sister than cousins. I talk more about my trips to see them in a separate book about my travels.
My dad was Irish, and his ancestors came from County Down in Ireland. Orville lived in Souris, and when I was very young, my dad's Uncle Alf also lived nearby. He was like a grandpa to us because we never met my dad's parents, and neither did my mom. He often baby-sat us and our beloved dog, Skippy, when we went away, usually to Saskatchewan to visit with my mom's family. Orville came every Sunday for our Sunday meal, and he was there for all the special occasions as well. In fact, my parents always had a visitor or an entire family over for Sunday supper, and it seemed like it was nearly every Sunday.
My dad had a great sense of humor, and I remember him mostly having a sunny disposition. One of the things my dad liked to do was imitate famous personalities. He could even imitate Hitler, his stance, his look with furrowed eyebrows, and my dad even bought a little fake black mustache to complete the look. We often thought he could have been an actor since he played the part so well. My dad had been profoundly affected by being in the Second World War for all those years. I took a great interest in his story when I was about 20 or so. I had to write an article for a magazine writing course I was taking from Christian Writers Institute, which I believe Jerry Jenkins is now associated with. I took a portion of his story and sent it to a military magazine, Command. The article includes the battle he was in, how he got shot, and then later how he gave his life to Christ (got truly saved) in a military hospital in Italy. The article is called Finding God in the Midst of War. I post this article as a blog every Remembrance Day on Facebook, because I don’t want people to forget the great cost of the freedoms we enjoy today, thanks to brave soldiers like my dad.
Dad loved selling, and he was very good at it. He started off selling Fuller Brush door-to-door. Later he sold insurance, and then Electrolux vacuum cleaners, Rawleigh, and finally Watkins. As a small girl, I put on Dad’s big shoes, picked up his briefcase, and walked outside. Our neighbour, Mrs. Donogh, saw me, laughed, and said, “There goes Little Dave.” I’m pretty sure I‘ve been selling one thing or another since childhood because I saw how much my dad enjoyed selling. Dad loved the traveling part of his job, and he went all over southern and western Manitoba meeting people and selling his wares. I think he enjoyed eating out in a lot of small-town restaurants. When he wasn’t selling, he’d take my mom out for a meal to one of these restaurants. He knew so many people through his sales career and his travels, and he had a fantastic memory to be able to remember names, places, and events. Through the years, he taught me many things about life, politics, and especially about God. He was pleased I shared an interest in electronics like he did. He honored and respected God. He faithfully attended church.
My mother, Pauline (nee BONK), was the sixth youngest child born to Albert Bonk and Francis (nee RUSINEK) Bonk. As children, Grandpa immigrated from Austria, and Grandma immigrated from Poland. They spoke fluent Polish. had a large family of 17 children (21 in total; sadly, four babies died), and 15 adults survived to old age. So, I grew up with ten uncles and four aunts on my mom’s side alone, plus their spouses. I was glad to put a book together with all their life stories in it several years ago. Now most of them have gone home to be with the Lord. I had lots of cousins that I enjoyed playing with. Most of my mom's relatives lived in Saskatchewan. They escaped their home country after it became communist. Due to the influence and prayers of their son Edward, they had a miraculous spiritual experience while living in Regina, and they went from a strong Catholic faith to a Pentecostal one. So, I always say that I come from a very strong Christian background and heritage. Many of my mother’s relatives were ministers, musicians, evangelists, missionaries, and so on. We were all taught to witness and not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is where I saw that witnessing and sharing my faith is the norm, and not the exception. I continue to believe that one of the most important things I can do on this earth is to share my faith. I am so glad that I saw it first-hand, and I now try and carry the torch.
My mother set a good example for me on so many levels. She was a very warm-hearted person and generous to a fault. When we were kids, we’d go for a meal to the Chocolate Shop, and she and my Uncle Alf would tear the bill in half fighting over who was going to pay for the bill. To me, she was the woman described in Proverbs 31. She wasn’t afraid to speak up about her faith either. And she really lived out and demonstrated the love of God. She was a very positive person in spite of some personal setbacks. She worked very hard, and she kept an immaculate house. Dad always helped her with whatever he could. She created a warm and inviting atmosphere, and she frequently entertained guests or family who would just drop by unannounced. She’d pull out her delicious baking, and like it says in the Bible, she was “given to hospitality.” I think that was one of her greatest giftings. When I was a child and teenager, she sewed beautiful dresses for herself and us girls. She wasn’t afraid to try new things either. I got her to start painting in acrylics, and she was very good at it. She willingly went cross-country skiing with me. We had loads of fun on the many trips we took together, which I’ll share more about in another book. She was a wonderful friend to me.
My Siblings
Being the youngest, I came along when things were already well underway in our family. My sister Adella was already about 8 years old, my brother Alvin (Al for short) was 7, and Marlene was only 2. So, they had a big jump-start as far as family dynamics go. They already had a history with my parents, plus they had already developed relationships with each other. So, I was pretty close to Mommy and Daddy as a youngster, and I was also pretty close to Marlene. Being a little shy and looking up to my older siblings, it took awhile to really find out who I was and who I should be. As siblings, we are very close. We stay in touch regularly, and we get together whenever we can, even though Adella lives in a province over, and I live in a rural area. My mom always said that they raised two separate families: Adella and Alvin weren’t even a year apart, and then my sister Marlene and I came along later.
When we were little, I remember my oldest sister Adella was like the belle of the ball (Cinderella), it seemed, and me and my sister Marlene felt like the much younger wannabe little sisters! Adella had her own room on the main floor of the two story house, and she had a closet full of beautiful designer clothes. She had a collection of beautiful shoes that would make Imelda Marcos envious! And purses to match. And she was so pretty! We looked up to her. After Adella left home, at Christmas she would bring home the most beautifully wrapped gifts for Marlene and I. One year she gave us each a soft angora sweater. We were always so excited when she came home for a visit. When I was older, I went to visit her as well. It was a long drive from Winnipeg to Mistatim, way up in northern Saskatchewan, but well worth it. One time my sister Marlene and I got lost at night in the winter going to Adella’s for Christmas. I wrote the story, and it got published in a newspaper. We made it there at around 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Adella and her husband gave us the most memorable Christmas with a horse and sleigh ride and delicious meals. Through the years, Adella and I became the closest of friends, and we share a lot of the same beliefs and outlook on life. We have spent many hours visiting in person, on the phone, on Zoom, and texting. She is so easy to talk to, and she’s one of the sweetest, most loving persons you’ll ever meet. I sure appreciate her love and support now, and throughout all these years. When I was only 14, I was thrilled to be one of her bridesmaids when she got married to Kevin Lutz. I sure love my oldest sister.
It was wonderful having an older brother. My brother Alvin liked to tease us mercilessly, and we had a lot of fun playing together. He liked to roughhouse with us girls, and this likely toughened us up a little. I always looked up to my big brother. When I was little, he taught me how to ice skate, and he helped me stay upright. As an adult, he taught me how to golf, and so we golfed a lot together. When we were older, Al became a best friend to me. I could talk to him about anything and everything, and he was and is a very gifted listener and counsellor. I appreciate his keen mind and how thoughtful and kind he is. When he was taking a psychology major at the university, I knew he’d make a great counsellor with his gentle spirit and wisdom. He had always helped me. No wonder he made such a great chaplain. He knows the right words to say, and he has the compassion people need in their troubling situations. When I was going to university, we got together often, and we discussed what I was learning. He showed me how to write a proper essay, and my grades all went up. I love and appreciate him so much. He has a lovely wife, Linda, beautiful and smart, and she’s a teacher as well.
I remember when I was only about eight or nine years old, Adella and Alvin left home. It was 1967, Canada’s 100th Birthday year. This was when my parents would experience the “two families” they were raising. Two left home; two were left to raise. It was very traumatic for me when they left. I wouldn’t see them as often, and it would never be the same, even if there was more room in the house now, I missed them terribly. They went to Caronport, Saskatchewan, where Adella had a job as a waitress in the college restaurant. She later took her LPN training and became a very gifted nurse. Al finished his grade 12 there, and he graduated there, too. It was a Christian school. Al later worked in the business world as a manager, and also in sales. After he retired, Al became a chaplain, and a very good one. Suzanne Berry, a daughter of very close friends of our family, also attended the school in Caronport the same time as Alvin. So, in addition to his sister, he knew a friend from home. When Adella and Alvin came home for a visit, we’d be so excited to see them. I also remember when we knew they were coming home for a weekend, or a Christmas vacation, Mom would get the place all cleaned up, and bake like crazy. She always made a welcoming homecoming for them. She made sure she made their favorite foods. When their weekend home would be over, sometimes we’d get to go for the nine mile car ride to the “nine mile corner,” as it was called, on Highway 2 west. Someone would pick them up there, and take them the rest of the way to Caronport, which is about 45 minutes west of Regina. I would always feel so sad when they left.
My sister Marlene and I are very close. I often refer to her as my twin. We have so many similarities, and we also have a few differences. I asked my mom one day, “What was your purpose in having me?” She said, “To be a playmate for Marlene.” And what a great friend she’s been to me! We often talk about our wonderful childhood we shared. We had a wonderful time growing up. I talk about Marlene throughout this book, as she was and is a big part of my life. I’m so thankful to God for her, and I love her dearly. Marlene is a very compassionate person, and she has demonstrated the love of Jesus to me, and to everyone she meets for as long as I can remember. She worked at the Family Support Center for many years, and she loved being part of a charity that serves women and families in need and often in crisis. She is also a whiz at planning, organizing, and putting together events, even weddings. She has planned and executed pretty much all of our family gatherings and various celebrations for many years. She and her husband, Gord, could single-handedly cater the most exquisite dining affair. When Princess Anne was in Manitoba for the 1999 Pan Am Games, Marlene served her in a private yacht event. One time, Gord served the Queen of England when he was still working in the banquet business.
Houses we Lived In
My siblings have memories that I don’t have. For one thing, Adella and Alvin had already lived on the farm with Mom and Dad. For many years, my parents owned this choice land, and they rented part of it out to neighbors whom my dad knew well. My dad’s old homestead stood the tests of time where he was born and raised, and the house stood stalwart for many years. The house where they lived when I was born was called the “Little House.” Our family had a quirky way to identify the houses we lived in. The other houses were named after the previous owners. The Little House (because it was small for a family of four) was the first house they lived in after moving into town from the farm. My siblings remember that there was no running water, and the water had to be carried from the well every day. We didn’t live there long, however, and I think I was about three years old when they moved to another house across the river called the “Burnett’s house,” which my mom says was very cold. It was located across the river in the south part of town. Then we moved to the “Clear’s House” in the north end of town, across the tracks, and not far from the Little House. The builder of this house had been a railway engineer, Bill, and he wanted to live close to the station where he reported for work. I was only five years old, and my parents lived there for a total of 28 years. After they finally sold the farm, they bought what used to be “Dr. Knight’s House,” on Third Avenue. That was in the year 1990. After my dad semi-retired, they moved to a spacious two-bedroom apartment right on the main drag uptown, right beside Chicken Chef. They loved going for coffee there every day.
In Clear’s House, my sister Marlene and I shared a bedroom upstairs, which was very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. My brother Al had his own room, as they put up a dividing wall upstairs to divide the two bedrooms. When he left home, it became my room. Adella had her own room downstairs. Our house was close to the railroad station and the tracks, so you’d often hear the whistle blow when it was coming into town. You’d hear it late at night and during the day. It became a comforting sound as the years went by. There were fields all around our house, except on the east side where neighbors lived. So, we had lots of room to play, unlike in a city or downtown where you only have a small piece of yard or a cement balcony to enjoy. In the winter, we’d toboggan down the steep hills of snow left by the grater, or we’d head to the park where there was a steep hill by the Victoria Park Lodge. We’d also snowmobile with the neighbors, who were fortunate enough to own one. In the spring, Marlene and I would put on our new rubber boots and go crunching through the ice in the fields, then we’d slosh around in the water under the broken ice. What a world of wonder we would discover in the great outdoors, whatever the season was. One of the things I grew to appreciate as I got older were the sunsets. We had a pretty clear view from the west side of our house. And you could see if a storm was rolling in. When it thundered it seemed that the whole house would shake.
Magical Childhood
As a child, I loved adventure and mystery. My sister and I enjoyed playing dolls, cut-outs, any kind of board game, card games, and imaginary play-acting pretending we were teachers, for instance. The cut-outs didn't cost a cent. We took the old Sears and Eaton’s catalogues and cut out the models. We created an entire family and household just from cutting out images from the catalogues. Sometimes we would receive a gift of cut-outs in a special booklet, and that was really special. They would be models that were popular then, like Annette from the Mouseketeers. Playing cut-outs, Barbie dolls, and the board game of Monopoly were our favorite things to do when we had to stay in because of inclement weather. I wonder if this is where my love of scrapbooking began? We also played Go Fish cards, which we really loved, and we also liked playing jacks. My sister and I were avid readers, as well. We collected and read every Archie comic we could get our hands on. Whitfield’s Drugs used to sell them. We played outside a lot year-round, and many times our neighbors came and played with us. I remember building snow forts and my dad kept coming out to make sure we were alright. Sometimes we and the neighbor kids would play-act based on popular TV shows of the day, like Batman, for instance. We built forts and had hidden forts as well. We lived in a world of imagination, and we didn’t need the entertainment found in the technology of today.
I remember Saturdays especially. We each had to do our chores, and then we’d get an allowance. I think I used to dust the furniture. We’d go uptown and get to spend our coins on whatever we wanted. Back then, a single dollar got you a bag full of things! I might buy an Archie comic for 25 cents, a hair barrette for 10 cents, a ball toy, a small doll, or a children’s book for 39 cents, and I still had money left over for chocolates and candy. At school, we would walk to the corner store at noon and buy a bag full of candy for only 10 cents. You’d get about 20-40 pieces of candy and gum for that! For one cent, you’d get four pieces of candy, like jawbreakers, for instance. From the gas station store, we’d get a large glass bottle of Coke for 12 cents, and you’d get the 2 cents back for the bottle when you returned it. When I was only about nine years old, they’d sell me a pack of cigarettes for about 25 cents. My friend Darryl got me interested in trying smoking, which was too bad.
Going to Brandon was always a treat. We’d go to the Met, or Eaton’s, and later, when I was a teen, we’d go to the newly opened Woolco. My mom used to work at K-Mart, but that was much later on, after we had all left home. But if we didn’t make it into Brandon, everything you needed could be found in the stores in Souris. I especially liked Stedman’s and Robinson’s, both general stores that carried everything at reasonable prices. We lived a simpler life than today; we had each other and our friends and neighbors. Life was good. It seemed like childhood was magical, and we had so much fun I can hardly remember any hard times.
I want to mention a family that we grew up with, and that was the Berry family. Albert and Isabel Berry lived about ten miles north-east of Souris. We got together with them quite a lot. Their kids matched the age of us kids quite closely. Suzanne was the oldest, Patty was the second oldest, Colleen was the third, and Darryl was the youngest, my age. Mrs. Berry delivered Darryl on December 8th, and I was born three weeks later to the day. As tweens, sometimes Darryl and I used to write notes to each other in church during the sermon. Sometimes our two families shared Christmas together. One year we went out to the country to their farm, and did we ever have fun on the snowmobile riding across the fields. There’s nothing quite like enjoying the wintery outdoors on a clear Christmas night. I remember wearing my new Christmas gifts, likely a warm hat, scarf, and mittens. We likely enjoyed hot chocolate and goodies when we came in.
My Hometown: Souris
I want to mention some things about Souris because it is a noteworthy town. Souris is located in the Red River Valley in Manitoba, in the south-west area of the province. It is known for several things, not the least being it boasts of having the longest suspension swinging bridge in Canada. Souris is a beautiful town with the Souris River running through it on the east side. The Swinging Bridge crosses over it. It has a beautiful, treed park in the valley, and the downtown looks down into it. It is rich in Manitoba/Canadian history since this is where the aboriginals lived, and I believe some trading went on here, as well. There was wild buffalo at Oak Lake, a nearby town, where I excavated buffalo bones, which was my summer government STEP job. There may have been buffalo around Souris as well. Surrounding Souris are rich farming fields and agriculture. The view of the prairies west of town is truly picture worthy. Tourists are especially drawn to the agate pits just outside of town. Here is a treasure-trove of a variety of rocks. People go to the Rock Shop along Highway 2 to get their picking permit. Where we lived, they hadn't paved the roads yet. We could find all kinds of special stones as we walked along the road. As we got older and got our driver’s license, one of our favorite things to do was drive around town. It is such a beautiful, well-laid-out town that it truly was and still is a pleasurable pastime. I think almost everybody enjoys touring the town because of the interesting terrain, that has both hills and valleys. The dam on the east side of town was especially mesmerizing. And yes, there were daredevils that crossed it without any safety apparatus to save them if they plunged into the water. I always believed that Souris is one of Manitoba’s most beautiful towns, and I’m so glad I was raised there.
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